November Marketing Recap

The digital marketing world has been buzzing with changes this month! From core Google updates to new potential platform rivalries, there’s been plenty to keep your eye on in November. Here’s a quick rundown of all the changes you should have on your radar. 

1. Google to sunset call ads

Google Ads will be phasing out call ads in 2025, instead shifting advertisers to responsive search ads. According to Google, this is to “enable new features and simplify asset creation and management.” Eventually, all new call ads will need a landing page and those without will not be automatically migrated to responsive search ads when the time comes to say goodbye. 

If you have call ads actively running, we would recommend updating them to responsive search ads now, rather than dealing with the hassle of creating brand-new ones next year. 

2. LinkedIn videos are tripling your reach

A recent LinkedIn study revealed that video posts get three times more reach than purely text-based posts. Posting short, engaging videos, particularly in the morning, appears to majorly boost your visibility. 

This new trend is proof that short-form video is trickling over into more and more platforms – it’s not just for TikTok anymore! Try repurposing any reel or TikTok content you make for LinkedIn or, if you aren’t already making video content, give it a try! It seems to be the new go-to format. 

3. Google introduces new brand guidelines for PMAX campaigns

Google Ads has rolled out fresh brand guidelines for Performance Max campaigns, giving advertisers more control over their brand’s look on the platform. 

You will now be able to set brand-specific fonts and colours, as well as logos, which will help ensure any auto-generated ads stay on brand. 

This will hopefully prevent assets from being generated that are off-brand, keeping your ads all relevant and recognisable. 

4. The Guardian is done with X

The Guardian officially announced its departure from X (formerly Twitter), due to its increasingly controversial content, including far-right conspiracy theories, racism and disturbing material. 

Their final straw came after witnessing how X handled coverage of the US presidential election. This is becoming an alarming trend, with other companies/organisations such as North Wales Police and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital leaving the platform after hate speech and abusive language left them feeling their values didn’t align with those of X. 

These departures leave everyone wondering – is this the official death of X? 

5. Google’s new tools to boost agency efficiency

Google is rolling out several new updates in Google Ad Manager aimed at improving agency operations. The features will streamline workflows, handle first-party data better and improve direct ad deals with publishers. 

Agencies can expect more control over ad personalisation and increased transparency across the board. The goal is to help agencies be more efficient and effective for their clients, while still adhering to privacy rules. 

6. Threads vs Bluesky: Is Meta feeling the heat?

Threads, Meta’s answer to X, is keeping a close eye on Bluesky, X’s clone app developed by previous Twitter (X) employees. While Bluesky isn’t a major threat yet, it’s having a rise in influential users such as actor Jamie Lee Curtis and writer Stephen King. 

Meta definitely seems aware of Bluesky’s steady climb, as they continue to update Threads with particularly X-like features. Are they starting to panic? 

7. Google’s trending gifts this Christmas

Google has released their “Holiday 100” list, showcasing all the trending gifts this year. While this obviously is designed to help shoppers find that perfect present, it’s a powerful tool for marketers too. 

The list uses current search trends to highlight popular gifts, which reveals some valuable insights into current consumer interests and purchasing habits. It covers categories like tech gadgets, home decor, fashion and toys, offering a clear picture of what’s resonating with shoppers this year. 

For marketers, this means an opportunity to tailor Christmas campaigns to match consumer demand. You can align your product offering, promotions and ad content with what people are actually searching for. Whether you’re running paid search ads, organic social media or email campaigns, have a look to see if this list could help you out with your efforts this year. 

8. Instagram drops hashtag following feature

Instagram is ditching the feature that allows users to directly follow a specific hashtag. You can still search for hashtags and use them, but posts from these hashtags will no longer show up in your feed. 

This removal is to prevent spammy and irrelevant content from polluting hashtags, which happens a lot. Instagram has tried to combat this with filters but it never fully cleans your feed, so they’re just removing the option entirely. 

Instead, they’re going to push personalised recommendations on the explore page and via search results. Does this mean you’ll no longer get spammed with irrelevant posts? Not entirely – it still doesn’t solve them showing up on the explore page and in search results, but it will no longer be in your main feed. 

This change will likely push people to follow more individual accounts so they can replace the content they were receiving. It also begs the question, is this the beginning of the end for the hashtag? 

9. Google’s November core update: What’s changed?

Google just launched its November 2024 core update, continuing its mission to make search results more accurate and relevant. If you happen to see fluctuations in your site’s traffic or rankings during these types of updates, don’t panic – it’s completely normal! 

Google advises focusing on creating helpful, reliable and user-first content, as this remains the core factor in how sites perform. 

While Google typically releases updates every few months, it’s rare to see two major updates so close together. If your rankings drop after the update, review Google’s quality guidelines to identify areas for improvement. 

The update will be fully rolled out over several weeks, so changes in site performance may take time to settle. Stay focused on long-term content strategy and make adjustments where necessary. 

10.  Is Pinterest the best place for Christmas shopping?

Pinterest is positioning itself as the go-to platform for Christmas shopping this year, with users not only spending more money but also seeking out season-specific ideas, from festive recipes to unique gift ideas. 

The platform reports that users are 61% more likely to buy something after discovering it on Pinterest, and they tend to spend 20% more than users on other social networks. 

This could be a new key platform for you to advertise on if you’re looking to tap into active Christmas shoppers and boost your brand visibility during the festive season. 

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As November comes to a close and December approaches, the marketing world continues to evolve, introducing new features while bidding farewell to the old ones. To keep up with all the hustle and bustle, be sure to follow us on socials, and contact one of our lovely team members if you have any questions. See you here next month!